 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Playdoh
Common Sense Media says
Feats of clay.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that although the site does list every Play-Doh product imaginable, it's mostly harmless -- but it doesn't feature very much in fun, either. The online coloring is very good for that sort of game, offering many colors and precise control. In the "Parents" section you can find tips on removing the compound from your carpet, and learn that one of the ingredients in Play-Doh is wheat, so that kids with a wheat gluten allergy may react. The site says more activities are coming soon.
What's it about?
Visit Dohville, a soft squishy farm with cute dough animals and people. There's a matching game with several levels to play and an art studio, which features online coloring pages and lots of colorful digital crayons. Take a virtual vacation to tropical Doh-doh Island, where palm trees sway in the breeze as you meet the odd little natives. There's an online coloring book on the island too, and the site allows users to send an e-postcard to a friend or download some wallpaper for their computer screen. The "Parents and Teachers" area suggests educational activities to do with Play-Doh, and the "Fun Facts" area offers tidbits of trivia. You can also find tips on removing the compound from your carpet in this section.
Is it any good?
Unfortunately, all the creative stuff that would really interest kids, parents, and teachers is buried way beneath the ads and product gobbledygook, creating a place where consumerism rings loud and imagination -- one of the best benefits of Play-Doh play -- is lost. The bright colors and bubbly cartoons do make kids happy to roam around. It's just that they can't go too far without running up against an ad or something sponsored by a toy. Kids will get a lot of practice learning mousing skills, but the activities won't boost their IQ levels, and they'll be bored after about 10 minutes of play time.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the use of ads on Web sites. Why does this one have so many? Can you tell what's an ad and what isn't? Why is it so hard to tell the difference?
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AGE
mediocre at best
No sound, flat graphics, this is mainly a store. (and because of lack of sound, needs a reader, so 5-7 only applies to readers) CSM really missed the boat on this one. A waste of time.
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